SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 – BALTIMORE – Caves Valley Partners today announced that ZaVino Italian Marketplace and California Closets have signed leases to open retail spaces at the Village Shops at The Village of Cross Keys
The strong interest in Cross Keys from both national retailers and local tenants continues to demonstrate Cross Keys’ exceptional location and upgraded tenant mix,” said Arsh Mirmiran, the partner at Caves Valley Partners leading the development of Cross Keys.
ZaVino Italian Marketplace will combine an Italian delicatessen and grocery with a brick oven pizzeria and liquor store. ZaVino will offer Italian subs, sandwiches, panini, pastas, meatballs, Neapolitan pizza, and many other traditional items for both takeout and counter service dine-in (with both indoor and outdoor seating) in an open atmosphere reminiscent of light and airy markets in Italy. A selection of cold and dry goods will be available including cheeses, Italian meats, pasta, oils, vinegars, and olives. The store will also sell beer, liquor, and a variety of
Italian wines.
“Cross Keys is a unique property with higher-end appeal,” said ZaVino partner Gino Kozera. “The mixed-use nature of the property, along with Caves Valley Partners’ vision for the development make it the logical choice for our concept.”
Kozera is a veteran of the food service industry who currently operates Amber Café, a gastropub in Locust Point, and is a past operator of Panera Bread. ZaVino will occupy approximately 3,800 square feet near Williams Sonoma. The marketplace will be a family-run operation with Kozera and his partner in both life and business, Tiffany Garner and his other business partner and daughter, Gabrielle Merwin. Construction is underway with an expected opening in spring 2024.
California Closets, the San Francisco Bay Area-based manufacturer of custom closets and storage for homes, has signed a lease for approximately 1,400 square feet at Cross Keys. For more than four decades, California Closets has built a reputation as the leader in premium and luxury space management, delivering truly custom products and unparalleled service. The company offers custom storage solutions for the entire home including bedrooms, garages, living areas, kitchens, and workspaces. California Closets is expected to open in the summer of 2024.
“Both ZaVino and California Closets will bring compelling offerings to Cross Keys,” said Mirmiran. “ZaVino will resume Cross Keys’ tradition of housing a gourmet deli and food market, reminiscent of the legendary Village Food Market (best known as the Cross Keys Deli). California Closets will be a great complement to our strong home-related retail offerings, including fellow Northern California-based Williams Sonoma, the nation’s leading retailer of kitchenware and home goods.”
About the Village of Cross Keys
Cross Keys was originally developed in 1965 by Jim Rouse, the visionary founder of The Rouse Company. The property was acquired by Baltimore-based Caves Valley Partners in 2020 and is actively undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment, including the recently completed renovation of Village Square and the ongoing construction of two new restaurant pads, delivering in 2024. The fully completed development will include the addition of nearly 350 apartments as well as new retail and office buildings.